Columbus loses top defenseman for rest of playoffs

Peter Diana Post-GazetteMarc-Andre Fleury makes a save against the Blue Jackets Nick Foligno in the third period Friday

Montrelle Montesinos
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27 Abril, 2017, 18:09

Karlsson persevered in scoring the fourth goal for the Blue Jackets, taking the initial shot on the right side and coming around the net to beat Fleury to the left post.

Though Werenski did return like a true warrior, Pittsburgh eventually won 5-4 in overtime.

Jakob Silfverberg and Rickard Rakell scored first-period goals and John Gibson made 35 saves in the Ducks' 29th consecutive victory over the Flames at Honda Center.

Or were you mesmerized, like just about everyone else watching the Penguins-Blue Jackets game Sunday night?

Eleven seconds into the game, Dubinsky put a shot on Fleury's pads and Atkinson was in the right place to score on the rebound, pumping up a sold-out Nationwide Arena crowd hungry for some playoff prosperity.

Sergei Bobrovsky had an incredible regular season for the Jackets, going 41-17-5, with.931 save-percentage and a 2.07 goals-against average.

Guentzel scored Pittsburgh's first goal in the opening period and got another in the third period before beating Bobrovsky for the victor in OT.

Fleury was solid in Games 1 and 2, and even though he allowed four past him in Game 3, his save in OT (above) was him literally throwing everything he had at keeping the Penguins alive. He is the first Penguins rookie to score three goals in a playoff game.

In the second period of Sunday's Game 3 between the Penguins and Blue Jackets, Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski took a Phil Kessel shot right under the eye. But good on Alain Vigneault for making the necessary tweaks ahead of Game 4 and before it was too late. "I just met with him in the office (Monday) and that's the first thing that comes out of his mouth; he's upset that he can't play", coach John Tortorella said of Werenski, who had one goal in the series and was first in National Hockey League scoring among rookie defensemen with 47 points (11 goals, 36 assists).

The Rangers controlled the play for most of the second period as the Canadiens had only one shot on goal in the first 11 minutes. He let in multiple soft goals again, something that has been a theme for him this series, as well as his entire playoff career.

After only scoring two goals combined in the first two games of the series, Columbus scored three goals in just over six minutes of the first period.

Columbus outshot Pittsburgh in their first two playoff games, and the Blue Jackets had chances to win all three. "Then we'll decided how to approach the rest of the series from there".

"We're all excited here tonight", Columbus winger Brandon Saad said.

Werenski returned for the third period wearing a full-face shield after receiving stitches.